Federal government approves 37 more private universities

The Federal Government yesterday approved 37 additional new private universities.

The approval was announced at an extraordinary Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa.

FEC entertained about 40 memoranda from various ministries, departments and agencies, including the approval for the establishment of 37 private universities.

According to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, one of the institutions approved is an online university.

He said the newly approved universities have surged the number of private universities in the country to over 100.

Although he did not disclose the names of the universities, he revealed that online university would be the first of its kind in the country, and owned by a woman from Bauchi State.

Currently there are about one hundred and eleven (111) private universities in Nigeria before the inclusion of these thirty seven (37) universities.

Most privileged Nigerians find succour in sending their children and wards to private universities as there is certainty of duration of programmes unlike federal and state universities.

Last year public universities went on strike called by Academic staff union of universities (ASUU) for eight months making Nigerian students to stay at home for that long period of time and most of the students missing out in the actual time of their graduation.